Jewelry clasp



June 25, 1963 K. I WAYN E JEWELRY CLASP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1961 INVENTOR. KUR T WA Y/VE AT'IOQA/E Y5 K. WAYNE 3,094,754

June 25, 1963 JEWELRY CLASP Filed March 10, 1961 2 SheetsSheet 2.

INVENTOR. KUQ 7' WAY/v15.

BYGLLL L v gain United States Patent 3,094,754 JEWELRY CLASP Kurt Wayne, 586 th Ave., New York 36, N.Y. Filed Mar. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 94,754 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-416) This invention relates to a jewelry clasp and refers more particularly to a clasp for use on multi-s toned stringed articles of personal adornment, such as necklaces, bracelets and the like.

Throughout this specification and claims the term multi-stoned stringed article is used to describe a string of pearls, a string of beads as well as any other ornamental stringed articles, consisting of precious stones, glass, plastics, precious metals, non-precious or semiprecious stones, metals and the like, and to include several such strings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a jewelry clasp which can be used at the same time to attach and support a pendant or other ornament.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a jewelry clasp which can be used to fasten together the ends of a necklace or bracelet while serving at the same time as a support for a pendant or other ornament.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combined jewelry clasp and ornament carrier which is simple to use and in operation not subject to the chances of accidental opening or unfastening.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the attainment of these objectives, the jewelry clasp may be made in several embodiments. In one embodiment, the clasp has both a rigid and a swingable jaw member, the swingable jaw member being hinged to the rigid jaw member at the bottom and swingable thereabout. When, by way of example, the clasp is fastened to a necklace piece, the jaw members enclose one of the jewels of the necklace and hang therefrom. The swingable jaw member may be provided with inwardly directed tips which will rest on top of the necklace string. The hinged connection of the jaw members includes a spring which is connected to the swingable jaw member and is adapted to hold the jaw members in a normally closed position. A tongue-shaped projection made integral with the base of the swingable jaw member extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom at an angle, and provides a levering member upon which finger pressure can be exerted to open the jaw members. A pendant or other ornament may be permanently fastened to the bottom or top of the rigid jaw member. In general, the rigid jaw member serves as a base for any additional designs. In accordance with another embodiment the clasp is also used for connecting together the two ends of a necklace piece, a bracelet or the like. In this embodiment, two opposed jaws abut against one another in closed position while only the two other opposed jaws have tips on one side which are inwardly directed toward the opposite jaw so as to form a closure ring on that side. One of the two abutting jaws has an eye to which is permanently connected one end of a necklace or bracelet string. The construction may be such that one side of the jaw members will open Wider than the other when the clasp is opened to facilitate inserting the pearl, jewel or stone on the unconnected end of the necklace in the jaw members of the clasp. When the clasp holds the ends of a necklace or bracelet together, the jaw members enclose and hold a pearl, jewel or stone on the free end of the necklace and the inwardly turned tip of the swingable jaw rests on top of the necklace string so that it is impossible to pull out or remove the pearl, jewel or stone from between the jaw members except they are deliberately opened.

Patented June 25, 1963 The clasp of the present invention when used with a necklace may be worn anywhere on the neck at the discretion of the wearer, namely, the front, side or back.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a jewelry clasp for attaching a pendant to a necklace piece constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the clasp being shown in a closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational View of FIGURE 1, the clasp being shown attached to a necklace piece.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the jewelry clasp for connecting together the ends of a necklace piece;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is the same as FIGURE 7, the clasp being shown holding together the ends of a necklace piece while at the same time supporting a pendant; and

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

Referring now in greater detail to the first embodiment of the jewelry clasp shown in FIGURES 1 through 4, where like reference numerals indicate like parts, reference numeral 10 indicates the clasp.

The clasp 10 has a rigid jaw member 11 to which is connected, by means of a hinge 12, a swingable jaw member 13. The hinge 12 is comprised of hinge pieces 14 made integral with the base of rigid jaw member 11, hinge pieces 15 made integral with the base of swingable jaw member 13 and a hinge bolt 16. A spring 17 extends between the hinge pieces 15 of swingable jaw member 13 and encloses the hinge bolt 16. Spring 17 is connected at one end to swingable jaw member 13 and exerts a force on it so that normally the jaw member 13 is closed up tight against rigid jaw member 11 as shown in full lines in FIGURES l and 2. The open position of swingable jaw 13 is shown in broken lines. The jaw members 11 and 13 have similar shapes, resembling a crescent, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

It should be noted, however, that the shape of the jaw members 11 and 13 of the clasp 1-0 can be varied without departing from the scope of the inventive concept herein disclosed, their shape being merely illustrated as a crescent, by way of example, to show the use of the clasp 10 in conjunction with a necklace having spherically shaped jewels or beads.

The tips 18 of the front or rigid jaw member bifurcated. One branch 19 wardly at an acute angle from second branch 20 is directed her 11 at a right angle in the member 13. The tips 21 of member 13 are also turned towards rigid jaw member 11 at a right angle from the former. Thus the jaw members 11 and 13, in a closed position, are parallel spaced a distance apart to enable the clasp 10 to enclose a jewel on the necklace.

When the clasp 10 is in the closed position as shown in FIGURE 1, the tips 21 of jaw member 13 nest below the branches 20 of tips 18 of the rigid jaw member 11, and with the latter constitute closure rings by means of which the clasp in use, hangs from the later described necklace string.

A tongue 22' made integral with the base of swingable 11 are extends upwardly and inthe jaw member 11 and the inwardly from jaw memdirection of swingable jaw the rear or swingable jaw inwardly, being directed jaw member 13 extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom at an acute angle and constitutes a lever member by means of which the force of spring 17 can be overcome and swingable jaw member 13 pivoted about rigid jaw member 11 to open the clasp to the position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1. A jewel 23 may be permanently connected to the rigid jaw member lil, and with the clasp 10 constitutes a pendant which can be interchangeably used with a variety of necklace pieces. If it is desired, additional decoration such as the jewel 24 can be included on the clasp. In addition, the front face of rigid jaw member 111 can be studded with jewe lchips, or the like, to enhance its appearance. Obviously, the shape or general appearance of the pendant may be varied at will.

In operation:

To attach the clasp 10, and hence the pendant, to a necklace piece 25, the clasp is held between two fingers (preferably the thumb and index finger), and finger pressure exerted against the tongue 22 of swingable jaw member 13. This pressure overcomes the force of spring 17 and swingable jaw member 13 is caused to pivot about rigid jaw member 11 to the position shown in broken lines in FIGURES l and 2, which is the open position of the clasp. The jaw members 11 and 13 are then slipped over one jewel or bead 26 of a necklace piece 25, as shown in FIGURE 3, so that the clasp will enclose the jewel when presure is released and spring 17 forces swingable jaw 13 to a closed position. In this position, the tips 18 and 21 of jaw members 11 and 13, respectively, will lie disposed in between the jewel or bead 26 of the necklace piece and the jewels or beads 27 and 23 next adjacent. The tips 21 of swingable jaw 13 will engage and lie on top of the necklace string 29 (FIG. 4). Since the tips 29 and 21 of the jaws 11 and 13, respectively, form a closed ring when the clasp 10 is closed, the clasp will hang suspended from the necklace string 29' and thus securely attached to the necklace piece 25. The action of spring 17 keeps swingable jaw 113 closed up tight against rigid jaw 11. Thus, there is no chance that the clasp can be accidentally opened. When it is desired to remove the pendant from the necklace, the swingable jaw 13 is opened as previously described and the clasp slipped off the jewel 25.

While the clasp 10 has been described as applied to a necklace, obviously it may be used in connection with many other different articles of adornment.

In the embodiment :of the clasp shown in FIGURES to 9 where the clasp is also used for connecting together the two ends of a necklace piece, reference numeral 50 indicates the clasp.

The clasp Sit in the second embodiment is similar to.

the first excepting that it contains certain modifications in construction that make it adaptable for connecting the ends of a necklace. It has a rigid jaw member 51 which is connected, by means of a hinge 52, to a swingable jaw member 53. The hinge 5-2 is comprised of hinge pieces 54 made integral with and projecting beneath rigid jaw 51, hinge pieces 55 made integral with and projecting beneath swingable jaw 53, and a hinge bolt 56. A swing 57 extends between the hinge pieces 55 and encloses hinge bolt 56. Spring 57 is connected at one end to swingable jaw member 53 and exerts a force that normally keeps jaw member 53 closed up tight in contact against rigid jaw member 51 as shown in full lines in FIGURES 5 and 6. Open position of swingable jaw 53 is shown in broken lines. The jaw members 51 and 53 have similar shapes. One tip 58 of a side of the front or rigid jaw member 51 is directed inwardly at a right angle from the jaw in the direction of the opposed side of swingable jawmember 53. Similarly, the opposed tip 5d of a side of swingable jaw member '53 is directed inwardly at a right angle in the direction of rigid jaw member 51, being nested below tip 58- when the clasp is closed and consti- 4 tuting therewith a closure ring to engage a necklace string or the like. The tips 6% and 61 on the other side of jaw members 51 and 53, respectively, taper towards the top but do not have any turn. Thus the sides of the two jaw members substantially abut against each other when the clasp is closed.

On one side of swingable jaw member 53 near its tip 69, an eye '62 is made integral with the jaw, the eye 62 providing a means by which one end of a necklace piece can be permanently connected to the clasp 50. The base of rigid jaw member 51 is thicker at the side of tip 60 than at the side of tip '58, and the hinge pieces 54 and 55 on jaw members 51, 53, respectively, are aligned so that the axis of hinge bolt 56 lies askew the plane of the front face of rigid jaw member 51. Thus when the clasp 50 is open, as shown in FIGURE 6, one side (with tip 61) of movable jaw member 53 is further removed from the rigid jaw member 51 than the other side (with tip 59), giving the clasp a wider opening on one side to facilitate inserting the jewel on the other end of the necklace in the clasp. A tongue d3 made integral with swingable jaw member 53 serves the same purpose as that previously described.

In operation, the clasp 59 serves the dual function of connecting together the two ends of a necklace piece 64 or the like, while at the same time supporting a pendant 68 on the necklace. As previously described, one end 69 of the necklace piece 64 is permanently connected to the eye 62 on swingable jaw 53 (FIG. 8). If it is desired to secure the necklace around the neck of a person, the necklace piece is slipped around the neck and the ends brought together in front. Swingable jaw member 53 is then opened by exerting pressure on tongue 63. With the clasp 50 in the open position shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6, the jewel or bead 65 on the free end of necklace 64 is inserted in the clasp (FIG. 8). Pressure on the tongue 63 is relaxed and swingable jaw member 53 closes to the position shown in FIGURE 9 in which position the clasp 5d encloses head 65, and tip '59 of jaw member 53 rests on top of the necklace string 66 in between beads 65 and 67. The ends of the necklace 64 are now securely connected together.

An additional and important feature of this means of connecting the ends of a necklace, or the like, is that the clasp St) is centered on the part of the wearers neck while at the same time it may support a pendant 68. Thus the clasp serves both a utilitarian and decorative purpose, since it should be quite apparent that the clasp can be decorated with gems, designs, etc. in a variety of ways; the pendant 68 can also be fashioned in many forms to give a desired esthetic effect.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact disclosure herein described but may lend itself to a variety of expressions within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A jewelry clasp for a multi-stoned stringed article, said clasp comprising a rigid jaw member having an elongated base and curved spaced jaw elements, a swingable jaw member having an elongated base and two curved spaced jaw elements, a hinge connected with the bases of the two jaw members, a spring connected with said hinge for maintaining said jaw members in a closed position wherein the jaw elements of said rigid jaw member align with the jaw elements of said swingable jaw member, a tongue piece connected with the base of said swingable jaw member and extending outwardly from said swingable jaw member to constitute a lever for swinging said swingable jaw member outwardly relatively to said rigid jaw member, each of the jaw elements having a tip, the jaw elements being spaced in said aligned closed position, two aligned jaw elements having hook-shaped tips engaging each other in said closed position to enclose a space for the string of the article, the two other aligned jaw elements having fiat tips contacting each other in said closed position, and a string-carrying eye carried by one of the last-mentioned jaw elements the two pairs of aligned jaw elements enclosing a space for a stone of the article.

2. A jewelry clasp for a multi-stoned stringed article, said clasp comprising a rigid jaw member having an elongated base and two curved spaced jaw elements, a swingable jaw member having an elongated base and two curved spaced jaw elements, a hinge connected with the bases of the two jaw members, a spring connected with said hinge for maintaining said jaw members in a closed position wherein the jaw elements of said rigid jaw member align with the jaw elements of said swingable jaw member, a tongue piece connected with the base of said swingable jaw member and extending outwardly from said swingable jaw member to constitute a lever for swinging said swingable jaw member outwardly relatively to said rigid jaw member, each of the jaw elements having a body portion and a tip, the body portions of the jaw elements extending close to each other in said aligned closed position, two aligned jaw elements having curved hook-shaped tips engaging each other in said closed position to form an annular support for the string of the article, the two other aligned jaw elements having fiat tips contacting each other in said closed position, and a string-carrying eye carried by one of the last-mentioned jaw elements, the two pairs of aligned jaw elements enclosing a space for a stone of the article, said hinge providing a larger opening between the jaw elements having fiat tips than the opening between the jaw elements having hook-shaped tips in the open position of the clasp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,887 Jeanne Aug. 8, 1876 229,257 King June 29, 1880 534,679 Atwood Feb. 26, 1895 1,088,345 Kirby Feb. 24, 1914 1,578,940 Wacha Mar. 30, 1926 12,180,726 Bradley Nov. 21, 1939 2,462,425 Pratt et a1 Feb. 22, 1949 2,584,251 Bloom et a1. Feb. 5, 1952 2,586,758 Zerr Feb. 19, 1952 2,599,321 Doran June 3, 1952 2,856,661 H011 Oct. 21, 1958 2,961,693 Prehm Nov. 29, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 344,629 France Sept. 9', 1904 750,044 Great Britain June 6, 1956 

1. A JEWELRY CLASP FOR A MULTI-STONED STRINGED ARTICLE, SAID CLASP COMPRISING A RIGID JAW MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED BASE AND CURVED SPACED JAW ELEMENTS, A SWINGABLE JAW MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED BASE AND TWO CURVED SPACED JAW ELEMENTS, A HINGE CONNECTED WITH THE BASE OF THE TWO JAW MEMBERS, A SPRING CONNECTED WITH SAID HINGE FOR MAINTAINING SAID JAW MEMBERS IN A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN THE JAW ELEMENTS OF SAID RIGID JAW MEMBER ALIGN WITH THE JAW ELEMENTS OF SAID SWINGABLE JAW MEMBER, A TONGUE PIECE CONNECTED WITH THE BASE OF SAID SWINGABELE JAW MEMBER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SWINGABLE JAW MEMBER TO CONSTITUTE A LEVER FOR SWINGING SAID SWINGABLE JAW MEMBER OUTWARDLY RELATIVELY TO SAID RIGID JAW MEMBER, EACH OF THE JAW ELEMENTS HAVING A TIP, THE JAW ELEMENTS BEING SPACED IN SAID ALIGNED CLOSED POSITION, TWO ALIGNED JAW ELEMENTS HAVING HOOK-SHAPED TIPS ENGAGING EACH OTHER IN SAID CLOSED POSITION TO ENCLOSE A SPACE FOR THE STRING OF THE ARTICLE, THE TWO OTHER ALIGNED JAW ELEMENTS HAVING FLAT TIPS CONTACTING EACH OTHER IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, AND A STRING-CARRYING EYE CARRIED BY ONE OF THE LAST-MENTIONED JAW ELEMENTS THE TWO PAIRS OF ALIGNED JAW ELEMENTS ENCLOSING A SPACE FOR A STONE OF THE ARTICLE. 